LAST UPDATE | 14 Mar

THREE MORE CASES of measles have been confirmed in Ireland, the HSE has said.

In total, four cases of measles have been confirmed so far this year including the man who died after contracting the illness in February.

In its latest figures, the Health Protection and Surveillance Centre (HSPC), notes two confirmed cases to date in 2024. Its latest weekly report, which was published yesterday, covers the week of 3 to 9 March.

However, two more cases have been confirmed since 9 March.

The confirmation of these cases comes after the HSE this week issued an alert to passengers of a flight from Abu Dhabi to Dublin to make themselves known to the healthcare system after a suspected case was onboard.

Due to ongoing outbreaks of measles in the UK and across Europe, there is a heightened awareness of measles among clinicians in Ireland.

A number of other suspected measles cases in Ireland are currently being reviewed.

Each suspected case of measles needs to be tested in a laboratory before being confirmed as measles or denotified. Several possible measles cases have been declassified in recent weeks.

Symptoms and vaccine 

Measles is a highly infectious disease that can cause serious complications, particularly in children under one year of age, pregnant women, and the immunosuppressed.

It typically starts with cold-like symptoms that develop about 10 days after a person gets infected. The person will get a rash a few days later.

Symptoms include: 

• Cold-like symptoms such as a runny nose, sneezing and a cough. 
• Sore red eyes. 
• A temperature of 38 degrees celsius or above. 
• A rash, which usually appear on the head and neck before spreading to the rest of the body. 

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The illness usually lasts for seven to 10 days. You can read more in our explainer on the disease here. 

A new MMR (measles, mumps and rubella vaccine) catch-up vaccination programme is due to be rolled out amid fears of a possible outbreak here.

Some 310,000 people will be eligible for the vaccine under the programme which is estimated to cost €4.6 million. The vaccines will be administered by GPs and HSE vaccination teams.

Under the new programme, which will run for 12 to 13 weeks, children and young adults not already vaccinated will be prioritised for vaccination.

The next priority group will be healthcare workers, followed by underserved groups such as homeless people, refugees and international protection applicants. 

With reporting by Muiris O’Cearbhaill